Teen boy rescued after days adrift in Alaskan waters
A 15-year-old boy has been rescued after spending days sitting atop a boat that had capsized in the frigid waters of Alaska's Bering Sea.
A 15-year-old boy, Derek Parker Aghnaanga, was rescued after surviving days atop a capsized fishing vessel in Alaska's Bering Sea. The teen was the lone survivor, having lost his older brother and cousin in the incident. The trio had been fishing near St. Lawrence Island when the 18-foot skiff failed to return, prompting a search effort.
A Coast Guard aircrew located Aghnaanga on Monday morning while he sat atop the overturned boat, and a nearby vessel rescued him. The boy was in poor condition, showing signs of hypothermia. The captain of the vessel that pulled Aghnaanga to safety praised the teen's resilience, noting he had clung to the skiff through the night despite water temperatures around 50F (10C).
The fishing boat capsized the previous Saturday, leaving Aghnaanga without food or water for two days at sea. His mother, Vina Kulowiyi, shared on Facebook that her sons were dedicated fishers who provided for their community. The surviving brother is recovering at home, while his mother expressed pride in her son's bravery.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
